The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-11-24
P. I. BARNUM'S
Great Menagerie Almost Entirely
Destroyed by Fire at Bridge
port, Connecticut.
The Main Building Entirely De-
stroyed-Anlmals Burned to
Death-Siokening Sights.

BRIDGEPoRT, Conn.,, November 2I.-
Tne main building of Barnum B. Baileys'
greatest show on earth" was entirely
destroyed by fire last night. The alarm
was sounded about l030 O'Clock, quickly
followed by general alarm, and thou
sands OF people were drawn to the spot.
In less than thirty minutes the big build.
ing, which was 6O0x200 feet, and two
stories in height, was entirely consumed.
The first intimation of fire was given by.
the roaring of the lions and tigers, which
seemed to realize the impending danger.
Next the elephants struggled in their
chains, but in an incredible short time,
the flames swept from one end of the
huge structure to the other. There were
six watchmen employed on the premises,
but they were helpless to check the flames.
One of the men was in the horse
building when his lantern exploded, ignit-
ing the hay and straw. Five watchmen
have reported, but one is missing. The
upper portion of the building was filled
with hay and all the rapharnaiia of the
great show. Before the first alarm ceased
sounding the whole building was en-.
veloped and no one dared to approach
the building, being fearful OF crazed ami
mails. Three elephants were burned up
and thirty-six broke from their fasten-
ings and dashed through the sides of the
burning building. Their roars and
trumpetings and sounds of torment were
terrific. Six elephants and large hip
popotlmus rushed about the streets pre-
senting siokening appearance. Their
sides we're burned and great pieces of
flesh a foot square fell of. Thirty ele
plants and one large lion made their es
cape and have started of across the
country toward Fairfield and Ea3tOn.
Great alarm has seized many resi-
dents of the west end, and they have,
taken refuge within their houses with
their windows barred. William Newman
the elephant trainer, is out of town, and
the keepers we're not able, in the excite
meDt, to herd the frightened animals. In
the horse-room we're all the ring animals,
trained stations, ponies, etc. They were
all burned. In the upper rooms we're the
tents. poles, wagons, harness, etc, for the
entire show, and these, too,were destroyed
IN the car-rOOm were the birds, monkeys,
three rhinoceroses, hyenas, tigers, lions
and all the menangerie, which fell prey
TO the flames. So rapidly did the flames
leap across the main building that the
hremen made no attempt to- save 1t,
but turned their streams upon the
chariot building and car sheds,
which they succeeded In saving,
but the heat was so intense that this was
accom- plished with the greatest difficulty.
The total loss is estimated at 100000,
upon which there was but 100000 insur-
ance. Before the building went down,
Barnum's agents were busy making ar
rangements for obtaining a new lot of at
fractions TO supply the loss. Mr.. Broth
mell, Barnum's Bridgeport agent, stated
that the show building would be rebuit,
but not in Bridgeport. The great show
would probably go to Jersey City, where
better railroad facilities could be had.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
Watchman George N. Meyers was max
ing his rounds about 10 O'Clock, when he
discovered flames in one corner of the
building where the horses are kept. He
rushed around the building TO alarm the
other employees, when he was knocked
senseless by some one with club. He
lay on the ground unconscious for twenty
minutes, and when he revived, half of the
building was in flames. He awakened
The sleepers in the building and some
one rushed to the alarm box,
half mile away and pulled
it, negleoting to sound the alarm
from the box located at the entrance
TO the grounds. This caused q delay of
half an hour in the arrival of the fire de-.
partment. When it did come, it could do
nothing beyond saving the adjacent
building from being destroyed. In the
meantime, twenty eight elephants we're
turned loose. The white elephants Samp-
son and Alice, were destroyed, The other
elephants rushed about the city, and one
fell on man, breaking three Of his ribs
and one leg,
AN OLD LION,
which was often seen on top of the char
lot in the street professions, was hauled
out Of the flames by his keeper,
]. Wm. Bulkely. As soon as ne